This shrub is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.

Position: full sun or partial shade

Soil: fertile, well-drained soil

Rate of growth: fast-growing

Flowering period: July to September

Hardiness: fully hardy

Much maligned for its habit of colonising railway sidings, buddleja can be a fabulous addition to a sunny border, with dramatic, fragrant flowers that are attractive to butterflies and other beneficial insects. Pruned hard in spring, this shrub produces dense spikes of honey-scented, bright pink flowers with orange eyes throughout summer. The pointed, grey-green leaves turn butter-yellow in autumn. Deadheading the buddleja will encourage it to produce more flowers and stop any unwanted seedlings.

Garden care: Prune back hard in March, removing all of the previous year's growth to three or four buds.